Amir Khan splits with influential conditioning coach Alex Ariza

Amir Khan has split with fitness coach Alex Ariza, after the American who is
credited with transforming his physique over the last two years, is believed
to have had a disagreement with Shah Khan, the fighter’s father.

The fighter’s management believed Ariza was becoming too influential with him. It was Ariza who appeared before the British media with Khan the morning after his victory over Marcos Maidana in Las Vegas in December last year. Trainer Freddie Roach stayed in the background.

Ariza then went on holiday with Khan. Ariza has a track record of training high level fighters, having worked with the late Dieg Corrales.

Meanwhile, the fighter himself, who will defend his World Boxing Association light-welterweight title for the fourth time at the MEN Arena, Manchester, on April 16, has revealed that Australian Michael Katsidis or a re-match with his nemesis Breidis Prescott could be on the cards.

There is also a possibility of facing Mancunian John Murray, although he has campaigned mainly at lightweight. American Lamont Peterson is also in the running, but Khan has ruled out facing Paul McCloskey, the European light-welterweight champion.

“We want it all done next week and were getting in touch with Katsidis’ people on Monday. As for Peterson, it all seemed to fallthrough, but I don’t get involved in the business side, I just leave that to the management, but we are waiting for a call back from his people,” said Khan.